What is the difference between endnotes and footnotes

Generally speaking, both footnotes and endnotes serve the same purpose. If you have a significant amount of supplemental material, endnotes might be the better option. Feedback We've Added New Words! Word of the Day. Meanings Meanings. Previous "Too" vs. This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged. Word of the day. Redefine your inbox with Dictionary.

Using footnotes or endnotes involves placing a superscript number at the end of a sentence with information paraphrase, quotation or data that you wish to cite.

The superscript numbers should generally be placed at the end of the sentence to which they refer. They should be placed after any punctuation marks except for the dash.

You can use MS Word or other software to create footnotes and endnotes. A superscript number refers to a footnote or endnote which contains all of the publishing information and the page number for the information referenced. Many professors prefer footnotes to endnotes. Check with your professors to see which style they prefer. The format for a footnote or endnote varies depending on whether it refers to a book, article, or online source.

There are some key characteristics common to all footnotes and endnotes:. For example:. Each is different, as we will see below. A footnote is a type of in-text citation.

The information in the text body is marked with a superscript number 1 raised number , and the corresponding source citation and note is at the bottom or the foot of the page the superscript appears on. Both footnotes and endnotes are common writing tool features implemented when using various citation styles. They provide writers with a clear method in directing the reader to further information on the research topic and additional citations.

Though the terms are sometimes used interchangeably, footnotes and endnotes have a few key differences. The most obvious difference between footnotes and endnotes is the placement of each within a paper.

Footnotes are found at the bottom of a page i. While the content in footnotes and endnotes can look the same, they serve different functions. Footnotes are used as a citation vehicle for a short citation, while endnotes can contain more text without compromising the format of the paper. They each also typically use a different numbering system, which allows the reader to determine where they should look for the additional information either in the footer of the page, or at the end of the document.

Chicago format almost always has footnotes or endnotes. Both footnotes and endnotes tend to be supplemented by a bibliography or works cited page, which displays the complete citation of each source the writer cited in each footnote and endnote throughout their paper. Parenthetical Citations are used directly following the quote or cited material written in the document.

Typically, they come at the end of the sentence that contains the cited material.